Apparatus for distributing materials such as fertilizers.



G. F. ERIGH. APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING MATERIALS, SUCH AS PERTILIZBRS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.12, 1910.

1,005,525, Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

7 v k lm'zewbor ieoryejfidz, r W

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH :0.- WASHINGTON. u

GEORGE F. EBIGI-I, OF ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING MATERIALS SUCH AS FERTILIZERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

Application filed April 12, 1910. Serial No. 554,950.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonen F. ERICI-I, of Allentown, in the county ofLehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Distributing Materials such asFertilizers, &c., whereof the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention is primarily intended for the distribution of fertilizers,but, obviously it may be employed for the distribution of any materialunder similar conditions.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I, represents a front elevation ofa machine embodying my improvements, a portion of the casing beingbroken away so as to show a partial interior view in longitudinalsection through the receptacle for the fertilizer. Fig. II, is a planview of the machine with the cover of the receptacle removed. Fig. III,is an end elevation. Fig. IV, is a transverse section of the receptacleon the line IV, IV, of Fig. II.

My distributing apparatus is shown mounted transversely upon a vehiclecomprising an axle 3, running wheels 4, 5, and a frame 6, which maysupport a platform for the driver, and to which shafts may be attachedin case the vehicle is to be drawn by a horse. The apparatus comprisesan elongated rectangular receptacle 1, having a hinged cover 2, andadapted to contain a quantity of material intended for distribution.Beneath the receptacle proper and coextensive therewith, is a chute 7,inclosed at the front, rear and ends, but open at the bottom, so as toinsure the protection of the material while falling from the receptacle.

The specific features of improvement relate to the feeding devices forthe material, which will now be described.

Referring to Figs. II, and IV, it will be seen that the lower portion ofthe receptacle contains two opentopped troughs 10, and 11, respectively,of curved cross-section, the proximate edges of said troughs meeting ina ridge 12, running along the center line of the receptacle, while theirremote edges are in close contact with the front and rear walls thereof.Within these troughs, respectively, are arranged screw propellers 1 1,and 15, whose shafts 1G, and 17', are rotated in opposite directions bymeans hereafter described. Apertures 18, are arranged at intervals alongthe bottom of the trough 10,

and apertures 19, are similarly arranged in the trough 11, theaperturesof one trough however, being preferably staggered with relation to thoseof the other, as shown most clearly in the plan view of Fig. II. Theseapertures register with corresponding ones in the bottom of thereceptacle 1. A sliding plate 20, provided with two series of apertures21, adapted to register with the respective apertures of the troughs, ismounted in guides upon the bottom of the receptacle 1, so as to becapable of longitudinal movement with relation thereto." Thislongitudinal movement of the plate is such as to permit the completeregistration of the apertures therein with the corresponding ones in thetroughs, and bottom of the receptacle, and also to permit the gradualreduction of the effective area thereof down to and including a positionof complete closure. Said sliding plate is adjustably actuated by meansof a rack 25, mounted on the bottom thereof, and gear 26, attached to arockshaft 29, mounted upon the bottom of the receptacle 1, whichrock-shaft may be shifted manually by means of a lever 27. The

screw conveyers 14:, and 15, are actuated in opposite directions by atrain of gearing which comprises the following elements: A clutch member30, is mounted upon'the hub of the running wheel 4, and is adapted toengage with a corresponding clutch member 31, journaled upon the axle 3,and capable of longitudinal movement thereon. A spring 32, tends topress said clutches into engagement. The clutch 31, is provided with arigidly attached sprocket wheel 33, whose chain 34:, engages with asecond sprocket wheel 35, mounted upon the end of the shaft 17. Saidshaft 17, carries a spur gear 38, which meshes with a corresponding spurgear 39, mounted upon the shaft 16. It will be seen that when the clutchmembers 30, and 31, are in engagement, and the machine is drawn upon itsrunning wheels 4, and 5, mot-ion in opposite directions will betransmitted to the shafts l6, and 17, so that the conveyers 14, and 15,whose spirals are similarly disposed, shall propel the material inopposite directions along the respective troughs. The hub of the clutch33, is connected by means of a flexible wire or chain 40, with the gear26, in such relation to the engagement of the latter with the rack 25,as that when the hand lever 27, is in the position corresponding withthe complete closure of the apertures by means of the plate 20, theclutch shall be disengaged, thus rendering the conveyers inoperativewhen the distributing apertures are closed.

By the above mentioned arrangement, I not only am enabled to obtain avery uniform discharge of the fertilizer throughout the entire length ofthe rows of apertures, but can conduct such distribution to the point ofdischarging practically all the material from within the receptacle. Theac tion of the conveyers keeps the material continually traveling fromend to end of the receptacle in opposite directions, thus preventingexcessive accumulation at any region, and the configuration of thetroughs is such that the material must always tend to fall into aposition where it can be acted upon by the conveyers to insure uniformand complete discharge.

In the foregoing specification, I have described the conveyers as beingsimilar to one another in the arrangement of their spirals, and hence asbeing actuated in opposite direction, but, I do not limit myself to thisarrangement, it being only necessary that the conveying action should bein opposite directions in the troughs.

I am aware that the use of a conveyor in a fertilizer distributer is notbroadly speale ing, new, and I therefore do not claim the same.

I claim 1. The combination, with a receptacle adapted to containmaterial for distribution; of a pair of troughs arranged longitudinallytherein, said troughs being provided with apertures; conveyers arrangedin said troughs respectively; means for actuating said conveyers to movethe material in opposite directions along said troughs respectively; aplate having apertures in correspondence with those of the troughs, saidplate being arranged to move with relation to the bottom thereof;actuating mechanism for shifting said plate; driving mechanism foractuating said conveyers, said driving mechanism including a detachableelement; and means, operatively connected with said detachable element,and with the actuating mechanism for said plate, whereby movement of theplate to close the apertures disengages said driving mechanism,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a receptacle; of a pair of troughs of curvedcross-section, arranged longitudinally therein, and having aperturesalong the bottom, the proximate edges of said troughs meeting in aridge; conveyers mounted in said troughs respectively; a plate havingapertures adapted to register with the apertures of the troughs; meansfor actuating said conveyers to move the material in oppositedirections; and means for shifting said plate into positions to open,reduce, or close said apertures, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a vehicle; a pair of parallel troughs, withdistributing apertures, carried by said vehicle and mounted transverselythereto; and means whereby the material for distribution is continuouslyconveyed along said troughs respectively in opposite directions.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at the city ofAllentown, Pennsylvania this sixth day of April 1910.

GEORGE F. ERICI-I.

Witnesses ROBERT L. STUART, MARY ODoNNnLL.

comes of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. C.

